Cholet secured a 3-3 draw against Flume Ille on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, during the second round of the Badminton Top 12 interclub championship, bouncing back from an opening-round defeat. Playing at home in front of a heated crowd, the team earned a hard-fought share of the points despite facing a squad featuring world mixed doubles champion Thom Gicquel, according to regional sports reporting.

The result provides a welcome recovery for the Cholet club after a heavy 6-0 loss to Chambly in their season opener. Club president Jean-Claude Arnou noted that the team adjusted its lineup for the second fixture and displayed strong potential and a positive mindset against formidable opponents.

Early Momentum Built by Doubles and Singles Victories

The hosts started the tie strongly by capturing two early points. In the women’s doubles match, Mélia Beulé and Wei Xu defeated Herveline Crespel and Kristin Kuuba in three sets (15-7, 9-15, 15-10). The victory came despite the absence of teammate Manon Heitzmann, who was sidelined with an ankle injury and preserved for the upcoming U19 World Championships scheduled for Oct. 12–17, 2026, in Egypt.

Valentin Singer added a second point for Cholet in men’s singles. After dropping the first game to Lenny Hubert, the Cholet player adjusted his tactical approach, moved his opponent around the court, and rallied to win in three sets (10-15, 15-10, 15-12).

Thom Gicquel and Flume Ille Rally to Equalize

Flume Ille responded when world champion Thom Gicquel took to the court alongside Baptiste Labarthe in men’s doubles. Facing Jordan Corvée and Arsène Serre, Gicquel maintained strong control to reduce the deficit for the visiting team with a straight-sets victory (15-8, 15-10).

Léonice Huet then delivered at least a draw for Cholet by defeating Kristin Kuuba in women’s singles (15-9, 15-10) in what marked her first appearance under the Cholet jersey. However, that proved to be the final individual match win for the hosts. Flume Ille claimed both subsequent mixed doubles encounters to level the overall score at 3-3. Corvée and Huet fell to Gicquel and Gautier (13-15, 15-10, 12-15), while Serre and Beulé dropped the second mixed match to Labarthe and Crespel (8-15, 9-15).

Arnou Finds Reassurance in Draw Against Gicquel

Reflecting on the final scoreline, Arnou acknowledged that facing a player of Gicquel’s caliber made victory difficult to secure outright. While noting that the team was close to taking additional points, he emphasized that a 3-3 draw against such opposition offers reassurance for the remainder of the campaign.

The complete match results from the Cholet versus Flume Ille fixture are detailed below:

• Women’s Doubles: Heitzmann/Wei def. Crespel/Kuuba (15-7, 9-15, 15-10)
• Men’s Singles: Singer def. Hubert (10-15, 15-10, 15-12)
• Men’s Doubles: Gicquel/Labarthe def. J. Corvée/Serre (15-8, 15-10)
• Women’s Singles: Huet def. Kuuba (15-9, 15-10)
• Mixed Doubles 1: Gicquel/Gautier def. S. Corvée/Huet (15-13, 10-15, 12-15)
• Mixed Doubles 2: Labarthe/Crespel def. Serre/Beulé (15-8, 9-15)